Wheyfinding

The Way Back is a 2010 drama film about a group of prisoners who escape from a Siberian camp during World War II. Lack of food and water, sandstorms, sunburn, blisters and sunstroke weakens the group and many die. The key to their escape and survival is the motive to be free.

Wayfinding describes the various techniques used by travelers to locate unmarked regions or routes that are labeled incorrectly. These include the concept of dead reckoning, map and compass, astronomical and global positioning. Dead reckoning is the process of accurately predicting the location of an object through mathematical calculation.

Wayfinding is used widely in Travel and Tourism literature and is accepted as a standard process for traveling between two points with the least amount of difficulty. It is also utilized by hotels and parking lot companies as a strategy to help drivers find parking garages.

Wheyfinding: Which Whey To Go?

Whey protein was originally introduced into North America in the late 1980s and by its own virtue, became extremely popular in the early 1990s. Today you can order whey protein online or find it nationwide in pharmacies, large retail/wholesale chains, mainstream food centers and even corner grocery stores. But not all whey is created equal.

Although athletes and several sports nutrition companies popularized it, whey protein was first isolated and used for medicinal purposes in Germany, France, Switzerland and England. After research scientists discovered its remarkable healing and restorative properties, small numbers of alternative medical physicians began utilizing whey peptides orally and intravenously as a treatment protocol for Cancer and AIDS patients, who, as a result of their disease, were losing tremendous amounts of lean mass (cachexia).

Whey peptides countered the catabolic effects of these wasting diseases by helping the patient maintain a positive nitrogen balance. Whey peptides also strengthened immune response, which tends to collapse in degenerative disease, especially among the elderly.

I personally discovered whey protein isolate at the 1993 Anaheim Expo West Natural Products Trade Show, and since then, it has been a primary food staple in my diet. But not only mine.

Tracy and all the kids, including our grandchildren and even infants, have WPI shakes every day. They’re something I recommend to each and every one of my students, clients and friends because everyone in my family has benefited from whey protein isolate in countless ways.

I gained about 15lbs (6.8kg) of solid lean mass in 18 months after adding whey protein isolate for the first time to my diet, moving from a body weight of 205lbs (93kg) to 220lbs (100kg), and that was in my mid to late 30s. That was without any changes in my diet or training routine! At age 56 now I’m just as fit and lean, in fact in 2013 I entered and won my division title at the INBA Hawaiian Muscle (Mr. Natural Hawaii) in Honolulu. Dr.Cory Holly Title Photo

I consume up to four shakes a day on average, taking in 1-4 scoops (25-100g) of WPI per shake, depending on when and for what reason. I never miss pre- and post-workout application, and this approach should never be underestimated. I take a bucket of WPI and my blender with me on every road trip and tour, which I have learned by experience, helps overcome the catabolic effects of sleep deprivation, high stress and working long hours.

Whey is extremely soluble but unlike whole raw milk, whey protein isolates are almost entirely free of carbs (lactose) and lipids (fat), making this culinary agent bio-friendly to every ethnic origin, age and gender. WPI is acceptable even if you’re lactose intolerant.

When you’re isolated you’re free, but you’re all alone. That’s the cost of freedom. The best whey to use whey is to add a scoop or two to a cup of filtered water in a blender. Add 1-2 tsp of a mixed blend of omega-3 rich seed oils (hemp, flax and pumpkin), fresh and/or frozen fruit, and any number of additional nutritional performance powders including creatine, glutamine, ribose or spirulina. Now you have a complete meal comprised of clean high-water volume, antioxidant enzyme rich carbs, a beautiful source of essential fatty acids and the best protein known.

What is Whey?

Whey is the thin, watery part of milk that separates from the curd after coagulation, as in cheese-making. Whey is mostly sugar (lactose) and water, and contains less than 1% protein, but these proteins, referred to as “whey peptides”, are the finest highest quality proteins known as determined by nitrogen retention, growth promotion and biological value (BV).

It’s the milk curd that contains the undesirable protein casein, not whey. It takes over 229 liters of milk to produce one kilogram (1000g) of concentrated, high-quality whey protein isolate. WPI refers to a standard or scale created by the dairy industry (not the health food industry or biochemistry text books) for the benefit of selection and sale to wholesale suppliers, manufacturers and consumers.

WPI by definition contains no less than 90% protein. If it contains less than 90% protein, it is classified as a whey protein “concentrate” (WPC). Concentrates are inferior to isolates in the same way that silver has less value than gold. Concentrates have less protein and less biological value. They have less than 90% protein but not less than 35% protein, so disparity between various concentrates can be enormous.

With the advent of sophisticated extraction and special filtration methods, including cross-flow microfiltration and ion-exchange, it became possible to isolate the peptide or whey protein microfractions without using harsh chemical solvents, toxic acids or high temperature. As a result, up to ninety-nine (99) percent of the protein remains non-denatured and viable.

To optimize health and performance, a full range of low, medium and high molecular weight peptides should be present, as each peptide possesses its own unique healing and restorative property. Peptides are isolated by extraction without the need for heat or acid-treatment. This preserves the integrity and biochemical properties of the protein microfractions.

The principle microfractions present in WPI include beta-lactoglobulin, glycomacropeptide, high alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins, albumen and lactoferrin. And guess what? Whey protein isolate is one of the best sources of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) considered by many to be ideal for recovery and for fueling hungry growing muscles.

So to reiterate, whey protein isolate alone, not whey protein concentrate or blends of the two, is my single favorite best choice of any protein supplement on the market. Twenty years after that first whey protein isolate “hit” this incredible supplement still serves me as well as my workouts in the gym and the enrichment of my mind through research and online education.

I should mention here that I do reinforce my WPI shakes with a very nice all-in-one nutritional blend powder consisting of hemp, brown rice, saviseed, pea, chlorella, omega-3’s, greens, antioxidants, probiotics, digestive enzymes and a complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals. So there you have it.

Shake’n’Take!

The Whey to good health is simple but difficult to follow. The road is steep and narrow, and filled with many potholes, rocks and sinister edges. The key to your escape and survival is the motive to be free.

Photo by Angelique Downing from Burst

As always...Stay well and Live Free
Dr.C